Taliban invite US to return to Afghanistan five years after withdrawal

Five years after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the country’s Taliban authorities have invited Washington to restore its diplomatic presence in the country.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told The New York Times that the United States could reopen its embassy, maintain a diplomatic presence and invest in Afghanistan’s mineral resources, dams and road infrastructure.

According to Muttaqi, the Taliban authorities consider the period of war to be over and want to establish relations with the United States based on mutual respect.

Afghanistan is seeking to end its international isolation and has already been expanding ties with Russia, Central Asian countries and Gulf states.

Restoring full cooperation with Washington, however, remains a difficult prospect. The United States continues to oppose normalising relations, citing ongoing concerns over terrorism as well as the Taliban’s policies.

By Tamilla Hasanova